Kings’ Owners Have No Comment On Latest Report Of ‘Done Deal’

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: (L-R) Sacramento Kings owners George, Gavin and Joe Maloof watch their team take on the Los Angeles Clippers on February 28, 2011 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings owners George, Gavin and Joe Maloof watch their team take on the Los Angeles Clippers on February 28, 2011 at ARCO Arena. (credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A tweet send by sports reporter Matt Steinmetz revived rumors Friday about the Sacramento Kings being sold and moved to Seattle.

Steinmetz tweeted at 9:29 a.m., “I’ve heard from reliable source that the Kings’ sale to Hansen-Ballmer in Seattle is done deal. Source said price (continued on separate website) of the Sale is $525 million. The source said further that the Maloofs will have no stake or decision-making with Seattle team and are out.”

I've heard from reliable source that the Kings' sale to Hansen-Ballmer in Seattle is done deal. Source said price sulia.com/my_thoughts/98…

“Nothing has changed with our position. We will not comment on rumors or speculation about the Sacramento Kings,” said a spokesman for the Maloofs.

On Wednesday Yahoo! Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the sale was being finalized, which touched off a local media storm and revealed the previously unknown fact that the Maloofs were willing to sell.

The Maloofs are finalizing an agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to the Hansen-Ballmer led Seattle group, sources tell Yahoo! Sports.

The Seattle Times is reporting the Maloofs want some operational control as minority owners before they sell their majority stake to a group led by billionaire Chris Hansen, a Seattle native who is intent on bringing NBA basketball back to his home city.

Hansen has the green light to build his $500 million new basketball arena in an area that resembles the Sacramento railyards. But there are two hurdles he’ll need to overcome before building can start: an environmental review, and the big sticking point — a team to play in it.

CBS13’s Rob McAllister spoke with an NBA spokesman who says he has no information on any possible deal with the Maloofs and Seattle, and says nothing has been turned into league that he knows of.

A potential buyer has already come forward to say he’d buy the Kings and keep them in Sacramento. CBSSports.com’s Ken Berger tweeted that Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, has expressed interest in buying the team.